Improvement in abdominal supporters



W'. C. BLAKESLEE.

. ABDoMINAL-sUPPoRTE-m Patented 3111.251875.

mhzesses;

TATENT FF'IGE.

WILLIAM C. BLAKESLEE, OF UNION, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN ABDOMINAL SUPPORTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 752,694, datedJanuary 25, 1876 application tiled February 25, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, WM. O. BLAKESLEE, of Union, county of Broome andState of VNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inUterine Supporters, of which the following is a specification The natureof my invention consists in th construction and arrangement ot' auterine supporter, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

It is well known that during the period of gestation the increasing sizeand weight of the uterus is attended by great tension of the muscularcoats of the uterus and consequent pressure upon the adjacent organs,all of which causes a feeling ot' great weight in the abdomen. Torelieve this is the object of my invention.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionappertains to make and use the same, I will-now proceed to describe itsconstruction and operation, refer- 4ring to the annexed drawing, whichforms a part of this speciiication, and which is a perspective view ofmy invention.

A A represent two shoulder-pads, which sustain the weight and hold thesupporter in its proper shape. These pads are connected, by adjustableelastic straps A A, with the front and back pads B B, which areconnected together by elastic straps D D, and when thus connected form abelt. The pads B B are designed to support the pit of the stomach andthe Luck or spine. The back pad B is, by short elastic straps B',connected with the lower pad C. I I represent two adjustable hip-pads,intended for protecting the hips, and are held in position by means ofside straps H H, which run through loops a on the hip-pads, and arefastened to the pad O and to the compress Gr. rlhis compress is madesubstantially in the form shown, with one or more metallic springsinside of the upper part, and the lower part is padded. It is intendedto hold the uterus in its place, and is provided with the tipping pieceor pad F and the front piece or pad E. The compress is provided withvstraps L L to pass around the legs, and straps K K extend'from thecompress Vbetween the legs to the pad O.

The straps K and L run in shea-ths J J to the compress, as shown, toprevent chaling or galling.

The front pad B is connected by straps M M with the tipping piece ,F,and by straps N N with the front piece or pad E.

When this supporter is in use and. each part in place the elastic strapsM M are drawn or buckled up, which draws the inside of the pad of thecompress G upward, and the hip-straps H H hold the compress against orin the proper place. i

It will be seen from the above that shoulder-pads A assist greatly, incombination wit-l1 the intermediate belt, composed of pads B and elasticstraps D, to support the principal pad, consisting ot' the parts E, F,and G, which is kept fromla-teral or downward dis placements byhip-straps H and thigh-straps K. The pad C and its straps B and Kcomplete the dorsal connection and support of the main pad or supporterE F Gr.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is l l. The intermediatesupporting-belt, composed of elastic bands D and front and back pads B,in combination with shoulder-pads A, all litted to the upper part of thebody, as herein shown, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The sliding hip-pads I, provided with loops a, and combined withstraps H, as herein shown and described."

3. The uterine pad consisting of the parts E, F, and G, constructed andarranged as and for the purpose herein set forth.

1n testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I hereunto affixmy signature.

WM. C. BLAKESLEE. Witnesses:

THOMAS HARRIS, HENRY M. BARTHoLoMEw.

